It is very evident that there
are people—and civil leaders—from across the political spectrum that are intent
on ensuring that divisive politics, crime, militancy, and racial and religious tensions
are fuelled, and anger and dissent encouraged. Social media platforms and some
mainstream media outlets are increasingly being abused, used, and exploited, to
convey disinformation, lies, and hate speech.
Social media abounds with official
looking documents, along with dated photographs and video clips (often ‘posed’),
sometimes accompanied by voice notes, and is being used by opposites across the
political spectrum to further the aims, agendas, intentions, and false
narratives of those who are sowing the seeds of panic and calling for an armed
uprising in South Africa.
Perhaps they believe that our
country would be better off if it ended up looking like Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya,
Syria, or Yemen? Perhaps they ought to
read the story of agent ‘Curveball’ and how his disinformation, lies, and fake intelligence
resulted mass damage, death, and destruction in Iraq? Elsewhere, the story is
much the same…Is this the ends they are working for?
Many of those who continue to
call for confrontation, conflict, and war, probably have very little to no clue
what an armed uprising and civil war truly involves. ‘Opinion makers’ should
desist from hoping and wishing for conflict and civil war—they might just
discover too late that their hopes and wishes have become reality as every
action has an (often unequal) opposite reaction: this calls for thinking before
speaking or writing.
People should be wary who they
accept their ‘news’ from. Blind acceptance of what we hear or read makes us
mere sheep in the eyes of those driving the destructive agendas and narratives.
Even more surprisingly is that
some people believe that some ‘foreign ally’ will rush in to save the country
when it is burning. It is time to seriously readjust that thinking as it is both
foolish and delusionary—especially as some of these ‘foreign allies’ are aiding
and abetting the growth of conflict in our country.
It is perfectly understandable
that not all of us share the same political, racial, or religious ideals, or
view life through the same prism. We all have our own unique views regarding ethnicity,
language, race, religion, politics, and so forth—after all, that is what makes
us who we are.
To merely watch and wring
one’s hands, and allow the problems to take their (usually) criminal and
destructive course is to transform evil and hooliganism into a ‘legitimate’ worse.
It is equally irresponsible and criminal to fuel the flames of these lies, and
feed the destructive narrative.
Taking up arms may be one way
of resolving the many problems we face but it is the most devastating option of
all—and many of us have witnessed first-hand the devastation this brings. But,
there are other options available—if only we are willing to look for them.
Many mainstream and armchair
journalists seldom disseminate ‘real news’. Instead, they create lies or ‘fake
news’ to create negativism, demoralise people, fuel anger and hatred, and
impart (or rather try to force) their warped opinions, views, and beliefs on
others. After all, they need to protect the narrative they propagate.
Many others swallow these
deceptions and lies, and pass it on to anyone who is willing to read or listen
to them—after adding their own spin, opinions and views to increase the
fakeness under the guise of ‘truth’.
Fanning the flames of conflict
and war by blaming everyone else for our woes, and blaming the past for our
present failures, is nothing short of refusing to take responsibility for our
current position.
It is said that when lies become
the truth, there can be no turning back.
We only have one country and
we all have a responsibility to ensure that we do not go down the path of
conflict and war.
I would rather be part of an
imperfect solution than part of the massive and destructive problem—where there
will be no winner.
